The Controversial Double-Kick Penalty: How Atletico Madrid Lost the Champions League Shootout

The Incident That Changed the Game

In a high-stakes Champions League last-16 shootout between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, Julian Alvarez's penalty became the center of attention. Alvarez slipped as he struck the ball, but it still managed to find the top-left corner of the net. However, the joy was short-lived as VAR intervened, ruling that Alvarez had touched the ball twice, which is against the rules. The penalty was disallowed, and Real Madrid went on to win the shootout 4-2.

The Rules Explained

According to Article 14.1 of the IFAB laws of the game, a player must not touch the ball twice during a penalty kick. This rule is in place to prevent players from gaining an unfair advantage. If a player does touch the ball twice, the penalty is disallowed, and no retake is permitted.

Reactions from the Teams

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone expressed his doubts about the decision, stating that he had never seen a penalty called back for a double touch. On the other hand, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was confident that the correct decision had been made. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the incident but emphasized that the rules had been correctly applied.

Historical Context

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In 2017, Riyad Mahrez had a penalty disallowed for a similar reason in a match against Manchester City. More recently, in January 2023, Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic experienced the same fate in a game against Newcastle.

The Aftermath

The win keeps Real Madrid's hopes of a record-extending 16th European Cup triumph alive. It also maintains their impressive record against Atletico Madrid, having won all six penalty shootouts contested between the two teams. This was the fifth time Atletico have been knocked out of the Champions League knockout stages by Real Madrid, a record only surpassed by Bayern Munich's seven eliminations by Real Madrid.

Conclusion

The controversial double-kick penalty will be remembered as a pivotal moment in this intense derby. While Atletico Madrid fans may feel hard done by, the rules were clear, and the decision was made accordingly. Real Madrid's victory keeps their Champions League dreams alive, while Atletico will have to regroup and focus on their next challenge.